Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling novel comes to the big screen in this romantic drama from director George Tillman Jr.. The plot centers on the star-crossed love affair between a retired bull rider who wants to get back in the saddle, and an art student preparing to seek her fortune in New York City. As their relationship is put to the ultimate test, the wisdom of an aging man who recalls his own lost love serves as a source of great inspiration. Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood, Melissa Benoist, Jack Huston, Alan Alda, Oona Chaplin star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

According to a press release, Groupon, the global leader in online local commerce has entered new territory by offering its first-ever digital download movie. And it was shot right here in Wilmywood! Back in the fall of 2013, Terry Jastrow along with his wife Ann Archer graced us with their presence and brought the golf caper, The Squeeze, to the Port City. And….they have released the trailer. It looks like an AWESOME movie. Check it out!

The offer is available in two separate packages. Customers can either order the movie plus Tom Watson’s “Lessons of a Lifetime” DVD set, the most popular golf instructional video ever, for $19.99 (a $47.95 value), or the movie plus a tee time in their area via EZ Link, America’s largest tee time company, for $13.99 (a $28 value).

While Groupon has previously offered movie tickets to buy and use at the local cinema, this is the first time it’s offering a first-run movie as digital download for the general public to buy and screen at home. So yeah, we’re making history!

Groupon customers can look for this special offer April 16th in selected cities. There will be an even broader offering a few days later. Those not currently Groupon users can simply go to Groupon.com, follow the instructions, and become a member. There is no obligation. READ MORE NOW

Congrats to our Wilmywood home girl Britt Robertson. Well, she might as well be, she films so much here! She will receive the “CinemaCon® 2015 Star of Tomorrow Award.” CinemaCon, the official convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), will be held April 20 – 23, 2015 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Robertson will be presented with this special honor at the “CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards” ceremony to take place on Thursday evening, April 23, in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The press release has some REALLY nice things to say about our original Domie!

“With an already stellar resume under her belt Britt Robertson has proven to critics and audiences alike that she has an undeniable talent and ability to hold her own with some of the most proclaimed actors and actresses of our generation,” noted Neuhauser. “With her upcoming role in Tomorrowland Robertson will once again showcase that she is a force to be reckoned with and we could not be more thrilled to present her with this year’s ‘CinemaCon 2015 Star of Tomorrow Award.’” READ MORE NOW

It’s day 2 for Under the Dome! If you went down Oleander Dr this morning, I’m sure you’ve seen them as they set up base camp at the mall parking lot. They are shooting nearby. Yes, I know, thank you Capt. Obvious! They will be heading to the sound stages again later today. Have an awesome shoot day cast and crew! Woop!

TV.com has made their list: The Best Show on Every Network as of Right Now, and Banshee takes it for Cinemax! Take a bow cast and crew! Yay! Check out their complete list! GO NOW

The 20th annual Cucalorus Film Festival kicks off tonight with Dancalorus it runs through Sunday. Visit cucalorus.org for a complete schedule.

Cucalorus honors Dino De Laurentiis‘s legacy as this year’s retrospective artist. According to the Cucalorus web site, the program will feature his most famous films — like Flash Gordon and Hannibal — along with one of his earliest Wilmington productions — Crimes of the Heart. Immediately following the screening of Crimes of the Heart special guests, including Dino’s wife and long-time producing partner Martha De Laurentiis, will take the stage at Thalian Hall for an extended discussion to examine Dino’s legacy and the early days of the studios in Wilmington.

Other Wilmywood local flicks of note include:

Jon Landau’s Pushing Buttons (Starring Tammy Arnold, Sam Robison, Devin McGee, Lee Armstrong, Meredith Jackson and Jeffery Holler) — a dark comedy about five co-workers on their way to a company function who face adversity and discover some unexpected truths along the way. Saturday, November 15th, 10pm City Stage Screen (Swedish Flowers Shorts Block)

Times Like Dying (Starring Anthony Reynolds, Mike Holmes, Cullen Moss) Exhausted and on the run from a desperate bank robbery, a mangy gang finds shelter at a small farmhouse of a frail and sickly US Marshal. Soon the truth of their exploits come to light as Miss Ledbetter, the Marshal’s nursemaid, overhears their fireside conversation. She is taken hostage by the menacing Lonzell Dixon, who surprises her at gunpoint. Tensions escalate when Lonzell’s greed, lust, and struggle for power overtake him and the household. Thursday, November 13, 7:15 PM, Thalian Main

Secrets and Lies has officially wrapped yesterday.The Choice is back on private property today.Sleepy Hollow is shooting on the sound stages today.Blue Mountain State begins production next week.

RATINGS: Monday night’s episode of Sleepy Hollow pulled a 1.5 in the ratings with 4.65M viewers in the A18-49 demo.

Our Under the Dome/The Longest Ride lady Britt Robertson landed a lead role in the Eddie Murphy movie, Cook, which is about a cook who is hired by a dying man to make meals for his girlfriend and his daughter after he passes. Eddie Murphy will play Henry Church, an artistic man who agrees to care for the dying Marie Brody and her daughter Charlotte for six months, only to end up ingrained in their lives for the next 15 years.

That just about does it for me; I will have more Wilmywood updates for you tomorrow morning (unless something breaks) and every weekday morning we do “What’s Up in Wilmywood” at 7:30am & 8:30am LIVE on Sunny 104.5. And on Thursdays during Cape Fear CW‘s Primetime News at 10! Got Scoop? Email me: sheila_brothers@yahoo.com. Or message me on Wilmywood’s FB or on Twitter. You can also just post your comments below! Until then, that’s a wrap!!

We had a great time on Friday as more than 50 Wilmywood folks headed to Regal Cinemas Mayfaire for the premiere of The Remainingwhich was shot here last year. We got most of the peeps in the pic! Man, this was PURE Wilmington! It was so great to see so many locations!

We got a double dose of North Carolina. Before the show, it was cool to see the trailer for NC shot Kevin Smith flick, Tusk on the big screen before the movie. The movie was shot in Charlotte and stars Haley Joel Osment, Justin Long and yes, even Johnny Depp is in it, but no he didn’t shoot his scenes in North Carolina 🙂 His daughter Lily-Rose Melody Depp is also in the flick playing the character Colleen. The first review just came out. Check it out. And if you haven’t seen the trailer…

Now, where is everyone today?

As the shooting continues for episode 10, characters come home from school and get a rude awakening on Sleepy Hollow today on N. 15th Street…weather permitting. of course. (Two more Mondays until the premiere! Woo Hoo!!)

Secrets and Lies is in hiding today, but they will venture out tomorrow on N. 4th St.

TONIGHT on Under the Dome! When temperatures begin to plunge, Sam and Rebecca spring into action to try to save the residents of Chester’s Mill. Meanwhile, Barbie risks his own life in order to save Julia after a terrible accident on Under The Dome. 10pm on CBS.

Happy2 – Dog Days (www.happy2wb.com), a new video set to the Pharrell Williams song “Happy,” featuring humanized dogs on vacation at Wrightsville Beach, will be released today. Be on the look out for it on their web site or their Facebook Page. Guest appearances by Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson.

Now, remember that casting call for a major network that I put out a couple of weeks ago, about divorce couples that can compete together to win a 6 figure trust fund for their kids? Well, I can now tell you the show will be for NBC. GET DETAILS NOW

ICYMI: Lionsgate passed along the official one-sheet, or poster if you will for the Wilmywood shot The Devils Hand. The feature filmwill be releasedon VOD, EST, DVD and other TV platforms on October 10th, almost exactly one year later after it’s original release date. The movie stars Rufus Sewell, Alycia Debnam Carey, Adelaide Kane, Leah Pipes, Thomas McDonell and “Dexter” fav Jennifer Carpenter.

That just about does it for me; I will have more Wilmywood updates for you tomorrow morning (unless something breaks) and every weekday morning we do “What’s Up in Wilmywood” at 7:30am & 8:30am LIVE on Sunny 104.5. And on Thursdays during Cape Fear CW‘s Primetime News at 10! Got Scoop? Email me: sheila_brothers@yahoo.com. Or message me on Wilmywood’s FB or on Twitter. You can also just post your comments below! Until then, that’s a wrap!!

‘Happy2 – Dog Days’ to Support Nonprofit Providing Service Dogs for People with Disabilities

A press release has just been issued and we can’t wait until Monday! Happy2 – Dog Days (www.happy2wb.com), a new video set to the Pharrell Williams song “Happy,” featuring humanized dogs on vacation at Wrightsville Beach, will be released on September 8th.

Two local photographers/videographers, Ned Leary and Will Page, aim to support Canines for Service, an Wilmington-based organization committed to providing service dogs for people with disabilities nationwide. They are releasing the fun on September 8th. Here’s a teaser of what’s to come.

According to the press release, the video includes four main dogs and an appearance by a Vietnamese pot bellied pig. After winning a trip to Wrightsville Beach, the video tracks the dogs as they visit the beach, go to bars, fish and kayak, activities that highlight the unique lifestyle there.

image by Rick Ricozzi

Happy2 – Dog Days also includes guest appearances by Britt Robertson and Scott Eastwood, who were just here for Nicholas Sparks’ The Longest Ride. They filmed their fun scenes at the local favorite Buddy’s Crab Shack and Oyster Bar in Wrightsville Beach.

In the first local Happy video, Leary and Page filmed local residents as they danced around Wrightsville Beach. Now they decided to do a sequel. They wanted to create something even bigger that included more dancing. After filming some furry friends for one scene of the new video, the pair decided the entire film needed to be about dogs.

Director Ned Leary decided to kick it up a notch and use the fun to support our local non-profit, Canines for Service.

The filming duo completed the video in six weeks, without any financial backing and all on their own time. Leary, Page and the dogs’ owners/handlers were all previously unknown to one another before filming and include a waitress, a doctor, a premature infant ICU nurse and a Coast Guard instructor.

“Once we decided to shoot the entire video around the idea of dogs visiting Wrightsville Beach, we knew we wanted to highlight the work of a great service dog organization,” Leary said. “Canines for Service does such wonderful work for people with disabilities in the state, and we hope Happy2 – Dog Days will introduce people to the powerful work they do in helping people with disabilities live with greater independence.”

For nearly 20 years, Canines for Service has helped people with disabilities live with greater independence. The organization helps select and train dogs for service.

My buddies Charles and Jonathan from Star 47 News (WGSR) in Greensboro, NC headed over to Elkin, NC to see how the folks in the town feel about The Longest Ride shooting there. They get extra brownie points for using a drone for some of their gorgeous shots! A great piece!

Yesterday we announced that Britt Roberston is coming out from the Chester’s Mill dome and heading in The Longest Ride. Britt is going to play the role of “Sophia,” the college co-ed who meets and falls in love with a cowboy named, “Luke” who is played by Hollywood hunk, Scott Eastwood. Also, find out what why Britt was hangin’ with George Clooney. READ NOW

Game of Thrones alum Oona Chaplin has been cast as well in our Nicholas Sparks Flick. She will will play young Ruth, who “survived WWII and collected paintings with Ira (yet to be announced).” Yep, there will be two separate stories (if you haven’t read the book) that come together in the end. Production begins June 16.

TODAY: Make sure you look for the 2nd official trailer for our Wilmywood shot comedy, Tammywhich comes to theaters July 2nd. In the meantime, here’s the trailer for the trailer! Woo Hoo!

The Primaries are today. Hope you are voting! Who is Pro-Film? We have a list that we are still trying to complete, however, some candidates just aren’t talking about it at all. Here’s what we do know: Voting today? Who is Pro NC Film?

Sleepy Hollow – Our Sleepyheads venture away from the sound stages today and head to S. 5th St.

Under the Dome – Our Domies will be in multiple locations today. They head back to the soundstages but will also be in Burgaw as well as on Victoria Drive.

Max Steel – The superheroes will be at their Max Steel Headquarters today.

How and Why – Today is the last day for the Charlie Kauffman pilot. They shoot it out at Screen Gems today!

The Sin Seer – Ya know what? Good question… Not sure where they are todya.

Timberland– Also, in case you didn’t know Timberland is shooting a commercial here as well. They have 30 crew members, so that’s pretty cool. They will be on N. 4th St., N Front, as well as the Smith Creek Bridge @ McRae St.

LOOKING FOR THOSE FILM=JOBS STICKERS? Sunrise Broadcasting has a few. Feel free to stop by and grab one while they last at 25 N. Kerr Ave. (near the intersection of Market and Kerr across from the new Walgreens). Offices are open 8:30am-5:30pm M-F.

WE GOT MORE! Last time, they flew out of here in 24 hours! Thanks to Jed and the gang over at Image Monster, you can now pick up these fab stickers at the Sunrise Broadcasting, too! Film=Jobs folks! Spread the word!

That just about does it for me; I will have more Wilmywood updates for you Monday morning (unless something breaks) and every weekday morning we do “What’s Up in Wilmywood” at 7:30am & 8:30am LIVE on Sunny 104.5. And on Thursdays during Cape Fear CW‘s Primetime News at 10! Got Scoop? Email me: sheila_brothers@yahoo.com. Or message me on Wilmywood’s FB or on Twitter. You can also just post your comments below! Until then, that’s a wrap!!